Which Is the Most Important Number in Mathematics, and Why?

[Dna8]

[Aldaris]

Zero, and it's not even close.

[Dna8]

Zero, and it's not even close.

Would you be so generous as to briefly (in one sentence, no more) explain why to a Dinarid man who has zero affinity for the mathematical arts?

[Aldaris]

Would you be so generous as to briefly (in one sentence, no more) explain why to a Dinarid man who has zero affinity for the mathematical arts?

Well, without it, you can't have any proper complex algebra, calculus or even stuff like set theory. Zero isn't just a number, but it represents a neutral element in more abstract structures. But even that aside most of mathematics is motivated by finding roots (zero points) of real number functions anyway.

[Dna8]

Well, without it, you can't have any proper complex algebra, calculus or even stuff like set theory. Zero isn't just a number, but it represents a neutral element in more abstract structures. But even that aside most of mathematics is motivated by finding roots (zero points) of real number functions anyway.

Thanks, mate.

I once had a close and genuinely autistic friend (Asperger's) who is an intense mathematics aficionado, and he always related to me how deep or complex mathematics is as beautiful (aesthetic) as Art.

[Dna8]

Thanks, mate.

I once had a close and genuinely autistic friend (Asperger's) who is an intense mathematics aficionado, and he always related to me how deep or complex mathematics is as beautiful (aesthetic) as Art.

But his grasp (love) of mathematics is far too advanced for me to be able to follow his train of thought (beauty).

[Teutone]

42 of course